NJ LGBTQ Group Hires Lawyers After Director Charged With Assaulting Foster Child

ASBURY PARK, NJ — Garden State Equality, one of the most prominent LGBTQ+ advocacy groups in the state, hired a law firm to review how they handled the arrest of their former executive director Christian Fuscarino, who is charged with assaulting his foster child.

While Fuscarino was arrested Nov. 21, he did not step down as Garden State Equality's director until last week. The non-profit, located in Asbury Park and which receives millions in state funding, placed him on leave the same day NJ.com broke the story that he had been arrested.

Garden State Equality did not respond when asked if any of their Board members knew about Fuscarino's arrest before the media reported it.

Garden State Equality said it hired Matt Boxer of Lownstein Sandler law firm to conduct the investigation. Boxer is the former state comptroller of New Jersey.

"This team will conduct a comprehensive review of Garden State Equality operations and make recommendations to the board," the group said in a statement it released Saturday. "Mr. Boxer, a highly respected voice in corporate governance, will have unfettered access to our operations."

Garden State Equality received $6 million in funding from the state of New Jersey in the past few years, including $2.5 million in this year's budget, according to NorthJersey.com.

"Fuscarino managed to keep the charges under wraps for nearly a month, and then resigned from Garden State Equality on Tuesday within eight hours of the first news report on them. It’s still a mystery whether any board members knew of the arrest and did not force Fuscarino out or convince him to resign before it became a public scandal," wrote New Jersey Monitor reporter Terence McDonald.

Fuscarino, 35, turned himself in to Neptune City Police Nov. 21. He was charged with one count of second-degree child endangerment and two counts of simple assault.

Fuscarino is accused of slapping the child, a boy, across the face multiple times inside his home in Neptune City.

"An incident caught on video revealed that on November 9, 2025, (the boy's) resource parent, Christian Fuscarino, pulled (the child) from bed and appeared to strike (him) multiple times across the face, then pushed (him) against the bedroom wall. Fuscarino appears to stop and speak to (the boy) before striking him again," read the affidavit.

Another adult in the home at the time then intervened.

Some time later, Fuscarino told a caseworker there had been an episode of physical contact between him and the foster child, but did not provide details. The other adult in the home that night confirmed to the caseworker there had been an incident, and that it was captured on video. The New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P) contacted the Monmouth County Prosecutor on Nov. 20; Fuscarino turned himself in to Neptune City Police the next day.

Garden State Equality said Fuscarino was placed on leave Dec. 16 "immediately" after the non-profit learned he had been arrested. Fuscarino's lawyer is Mitchell Ansell of the Ansell, Grimm and Aaron criminal defense law firm.

Here is the full statement Garden State Equality released Dec. 20:

“The Board of Directors of Garden State Equality Educational Fund Inc. (GSE) is deeply concerned about the allegations against a former staff person that are circulating in the press. We stand against violence in all forms and take seriously our responsibility to steward the organization and its important mission. In order to restore confidence in our actions and operations, we have retained Lownstein Sandler LLP with a team led by Matt Boxer, Esq. joined by his colleagues Rachel Dikovics, Esq. and Shontae Gray, Esq. Mr. Boxer chairs Lowenstein’s Corporate Investigations & Integrity Group and is former state comptroller of New Jersey. This team will conduct a comprehensive review of GSE operations and make recommendations to the board. Mr. Boxer, a highly respected voice in corporate governance, will have unfettered access to our operations. Garden State Equality appreciates the patience of all our stakeholders while this review is being undertaken.”

Last week: Director Of Garden State Equality Charged With Child Endangerment, Assault Of His Foster Child (Dec. 16)